Below are the results of a poll conducted by Rasmussen and the Heartland Institute. Don’t bother commenting if you are indoctrinated, you need better media. Haters will claim the Heartland Institute is bias, they can’t say that about Rasmussen.
POLL: Consumers of Conservative Media Better Informed About Climate Science
Rasmussen/Heartland Institute Poll Shows Those Who Watch Left-leaning Media Are Least-likely to Get Basic Climate Facts Correct
More Than Half of Viewers of NBC, ABC, CBS, and MSNBC Think Humans Will Become Extinct or Nearly Extinct in 100 Years or Fewer Due to Climate Change
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL (May 13, 2021) – Viewers of left-leaning corporate news outlets CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, and NBC are dramatically more likely to believe alarmist narratives about climate change and get basic facts about the topic wrong. In comparison, those who consider more-conservative outlets such as Fox News Channel, The Blaze, and Newsmax their favorites are much more likely to know basic facts about the climate and not buy into the alarmist narrative.
From April 29 to May 3, Rasmussen Reports and The Heartland Institute, a national free-market think tank, conducted a nationwide survey of 2,000 likely voters. Included in the poll was a series of questions asking likely voters how they receive news and information, as well as several questions relating to climate change. The following results from the survey illustrate likely voters’ views on these important issues, as well as how those views are correlated with news media preferences.
You can download the full survey results and all crosstabs by clicking here. (We strongly recommend that in addition to considering our summary bullet points below, you download the full results and view the crosstabs for this survey, because this is where you’ll find the crosstabs about media preferences and other important information.)
Some of The Heartland Institute’s key findings from an analysis of the survey include:
- There is a strong correlation between a likely voter’s favorite television news outlet and his or her understanding of basic facts about climate change.
- Compared to viewers of Fox News, “another” cable news outlet, and those who don’t watch television news, viewers of CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, and NBC are substantially more likely to believe that if CO2 emissions continue to increase at recent rates, humans will “become completely or nearly extinct due to climate change” within the next 100 years.
- For example, 58% of MSNBC viewers and more than half of viewers of ABC, CBS, and NBC said they think humanity could become extinct or nearly extinct within a century.
- Viewers of CNN and MSNBC are substantially more likely to overestimate the amount of global warming that has occurred since the late 1800s compared to viewers of Fox News or “another” outlet. 65% percent of CNN viewers and 67% of MSNBC viewers overestimated warming by at least 40%, and three in 10 CNN and MSNBC viewers overestimated warming by more than double the real figure.
- Viewers of ABC, CBS, and NBC were also substantially more likely to overestimate global warming. Six in 10 viewers of these networks overestimated warming trends.
- Respondents who don’t watch cable news and viewers of Fox News or “another” outlet (such as The Blaze TV or Newsmax) were more likely to correctly estimate the amount of warming that has occurred since the late 1800s. More than four in 10 of the respondents in these three categories answered correctly, compared to about three in 10 viewers of CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, and NBC.
- 55% of likely voters believe climate change is primarily caused by human beings, compared to 45% who believe long-term planetary trends are the main cause.
Climate Change and Media
Survey of 2,000 Likely Voters by Rasmussen Reports and The Heartland Institute
April 29-May 3, 2021
Question 1. Where do you primarily read or watch news and opinion content? Cable television (such as CNN or Fox News), network television, online news or commentary websites, YouTube or other social media, talk radio, streaming services, or a mix of services?
30% Cable television
12% Network television
14% Online news or commentary websites
8% YouTube or other social media
4% Talk radio
3% Streaming services
28% A mix of services
2% Aren’t sure, or use another source
Question 2. Among cable news outlets, which one would you characterize as your favorite? CNN, MSNBC, Fox News or another?
20% CNN
17% MSNBC
34% Fox News
19% Another
10% You don’t watch cable news outlets
Question 3. Among network news outlets, which one would you characterize as your favorite? ABC, CBS, NBC, or another?
18% ABC
16% CBS
21% NBC
30% Another
10% Don’t watch network news outlets
I am now going to ask you a series of questions about topics related to recent news events. Please answer to the best of your ability, even if you are not sure what the correct choice is. (CORRECT ANSWERS ARE BOLDED.)
Question 4. Is climate change caused primarily by human activity or by long-term planetary trends?
55% Human activity
45% Long-term planetary trends
Question 5. How many degrees (measured in Fahrenheit) has global temperature increased since the late 1800s? Less than 1 degree, 1 degree to 3 degrees, 3 degrees to 5 degrees, 5 degrees to 10 degrees, 10 degrees to 20 degrees, or more than 20 degrees Fahrenheit?
14% Less than 1 degree
37% 1 degree to 3 degrees
27% 3 degrees to 5 degrees
14% 5 degrees to 10 degrees
6% 10 degrees to 20 degrees
2% More than 20 degrees
CORRECT ANSWER: According to the U.S. NOAA, “Averaged across land and ocean, the 2020 surface temperature was … 2.14˚F (1.19˚C) warmer than the pre-industrial period (1880-1900).”
Question 6. If global carbon-dioxide emissions continue to increase at a rate comparable to what occurred during the past decade, how many years do you think it will take for humans to become completely or nearly extinct due to climate change? 10 to 20 years, 20 to 50 years, 50 to 100 years, or more than 100 years?
4% 10 to 20 years
13% 20 to 50 years
20% 50 to 100 years
46% More than 100 years
16% Don’t think humanity will become extinct due to climate change
CORRECT ANSWER: There is no evidence that the human race will be extinct or near extinction within the next century, regardless of whether CO2 emissions continue to increase, a fact supported by virtually everyone in the scientific community, including those greatly concerned about climate change.
The Heartland Institute is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. For more information, visit our website or call 312/377-4000.
Not at all surprising, my friends who are the farthest to the left are nearly always terribly ill informed or misinformed about a wide variety of things, not just the climate. It’s kind of sad because some of them are, academically at least, quite intelligent, at least in some areas. It’s just a pity what a constant barrage of propaganda can do to even those who used to be quite bright, but obviously are also easily swayed by people in white coats, or who have the title “scientist” or, are just connected to one of the alphabet agencies.
Job 12:8 “Speak to the earth and it WILL teach thee”..
The climate of this planet as well as others has been changing since DAY ONE! The UNIVERSE is NOT stasis. it DOES change. THere were MAJOR extinctions on this planet even before the DINOSAURS, which were basically, pretty well adapted, but they had flaws.
NOW, IF you believe that you’re going to DIE in the next 75 or 100 years, just send me your bank funds and I’ll “caretake” them for you. YES, The climate WILL change, as the continents shift, the earth wobbles and the sun gets closer or farther away. It’s ALWAYS been that way, and will be until some asteroid smashes the planet OR the sun explodes or other such far in the future feature.
Until then, ENJOY the place, read the comic pages along with the democratic cries of the planet going to heck.
Meanwhile, the earth WILL have it’s UPS and DOWNS, just like a person. and WHEN the planet decides its TIRED of humans, you’ll KNOW!
Until then. Enjoy the weather.
Careful! Many of the indoctrinated have decided not to breed because world is going to end. Don’t stop them.
The not breeding more just like them is good, BUT, they are indoctrinating other people’s kids at an alarming rate. The public school system has been fully infiltrated, from day care on up, just like they planned back in the 70s, and now they are even trying to “get” some of the private schools.
The whole argument is about power and money and those at the top know it. Any physicist worth their certifications know that manmade climate change is a scam. It’s funny how some planets that used to have similar aspects of this planet are totally void and incapable of sustaining meaningful life. Even the Science Channel admits in its programming from time to time that natural forces far beyond man’s control have more to do with changing a planets climate than humans could in millions of years. Humans are indeed an arrogant bunch to believe they are more powerful than God or natural forces that have shaped numerous solar systems, stars and planets for billions of years. Planets and stars will form and die for years to come with or without man.
The leftists among us are willing to deny the moral foundations of liberty, authority, sanctity and loyalty in favor of just two – caring and fairness.
What happens when you reject 2/3’s of the moral foundations of society?
You are able to morally justify the most idiotic things. You appear to be lacking in intelligence. You will not be able to make a cogent argument for your belief. You will be easily led by people and organizations that want to take advantage of you to gain power. (Democrats, CNN, BLM, college professors and the like)
These people have become –
Climate alarmists
Abortion supporters
Critical Race Theorists
Defund the Policer’s
Anti Freedom of speech
Supporters of lawlessness and rioting
Supporters of censorship
Socialists
Racists
Read J. Haidt’s book The Righteous Mind